During the life of Shakespeare in Elizabethan London, life was very different than it is today in several aspects. The ground was made of slippery cobblestone. Also, there were alleyways in which shortcuts were taken. However, the alleys were not very safe at night due to a high incidence of crime. The buildings were aligned very close together. The fact that there was no drainage made the condition of the city horrible. Since there was no drainage people would go to the bathroom in what is known as “ a chamber pot “ which would then be emptied into the streets. Imagine watching people empty their chamber pots as you walk by! Also, since there was no water during this time, people drank ale and alcohol. People were so inebriated that they often spoke very loud and swaggered on the streets. Due to low water intake, the average lifespan was truncated. London at this time was also known as “the city with loud noises” not only because of the people, but also because of the horse-drawn carriages that went across the slick cobblestone, the traders yelling, the sounds of walls being scratched. Southwark houses the Globe Theatre. The famous Globe Theatre was built in Southwark in 1597 by Peter Smith. This was the most magnificent theatre ever built in London during the Elizabethan time and even a little bit further in history. The Globe Theatre was also known for gambling and brothels, along with famous theatrical productions. The profits in the theatre were doing well until 1614 when they plummeted. Then, Henslowe and Edward Alleyn had it demolished and replaced it with a playhouse. They then called this playhouse, “Hope Theatre”. The reputation of the Southwark area was mixed due to the disparity in class and wealth. Birmingham is where the London Bridge can be found. It was the means for trade across the sea. It was a port that was built to help improve trading and also give access to a larger body of water. This was important during Shakespearean London because since the cities were so packed so tightly and the conditions were horrible. A larger area of space was needed, so the bridge connected surrounding land; therefore, the London Bridge was vital. Overall, from the chamber pots to cobblestone roads, Shakespeare’s London was vastly different from today.
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DAILY LIFE IN LONDON prepared by: Sameer B
During the life of Shakespeare in Elizabethan London, life was very different than it is today in several aspects. The ground was made of slippery cobblestone. Also, there were alleyways in which shortcuts were taken. However, the alleys were not very safe at night due to a high incidence of crime. The buildings were aligned very close together. The fact that there was no drainage made the condition of the city horrible. Since there was no drainage people would go to the bathroom in what is known as “ a chamber pot “ which would then be emptied into the streets. Imagine watching people empty their chamber pots as you walk by! Also, since there was no water during this time, people drank ale and alcohol. People were so inebriated that they often spoke very loud and swaggered on the streets. Due to low water intake, the average lifespan was truncated. London at this time was also known as “the city with loud noises” not only because of the people, but also because of the horse-drawn carriages that went across the slick cobblestone, the traders yelling, the sounds of walls being scratched. Southwark houses the Globe Theatre. The famous Globe Theatre was built in Southwark in 1597 by Peter Smith. This was the most magnificent theatre ever built in London during the Elizabethan time and even a little bit further in history. The Globe Theatre was also known for gambling and brothels, along with famous theatrical productions. The profits in the theatre were doing well until 1614 when they plummeted. Then, Henslowe and Edward Alleyn had it demolished and replaced it with a playhouse. They then called this playhouse, “Hope Theatre”. The reputation of the Southwark area was mixed due to the disparity in class and wealth. Birmingham is where the London Bridge can be found. It was the means for trade across the sea. It was a port that was built to help improve trading and also give access to a larger body of water. This was important during Shakespearean London because since the cities were so packed so tightly and the conditions were horrible. A larger area of space was needed, so the bridge connected surrounding land; therefore, the London Bridge was vital. Overall, from the chamber pots to cobblestone roads, Shakespeare’s London was vastly different from today.